2019/20
Part-time
Undergraduate
course

Key information

Fees (total cost)

Graduates from this course have gained employment with a wide range of organisations

Graham Construction

AECOM

Lagan Construction

Whitemountain Quarries

F P McCann

Bruce Shaw Partnership

Graduates from this course are employed in many different roles

Commercial Manager

Construction Cost Consultant

Cost Engineer

Measurement Engineer

Overview

Give yourself the competitive advantage by joining a winning team to become one of the best quantity surveying graduates in the world.

Summary

Quantity Surveyors are construction professionals who manage and control the cost of major construction projects. You will be advising on the economic affordability of projects, typical development costs, procurement, tendering, contractual management, dispute avoidance and resolution, measurement and payment for completed works, ultimately striving to deliver projects within budget.

RICS accreditation provides you with global opportunities, which span key stakeholders throughout the construction supply chain, central and local government and as self-employed practitioners. Your transferable skills will be equally sought after in other industries.

Job satisfaction is a key benefit in this highly rewarding career, contributing positively to the sustainable built environment of the future.

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About this course

About

Typically students who enrol on this programme are already employed in a quantity surveying role but cannot progress further on their career ladder or achieve chartered membership of the RICS without first completing a professionally accredited degree programme. Others have decided that they wish to embark upon a change in career and enrol on the programme on a part-time basis. We can use our contacts within industry to introduce you to employers, for those not currently employed in a QS capacity. Demand for quantity surveying graduates is forecast to exceed demand for the next 10 years.

We aim to prepare you to make a positive impact on society and contribute to the economic growth of the construction sector within which you will be employed. Our experienced teaching team are at the cutting edge of the discipline through academic enterprise which provides Continuing Professional Development to industry on topics spanning the likes of standard forms of contract, new rules of measurement and building information modelling. We incorporate all knowledge obtained from academic enterprise into the programme. In addition we map the modules against the professional competencies required by the RICS’s Assessment of Professional Competence. This knowledge base and resources provide you with the relevant and current data to develop your understanding of procurement, contract administration, data management, estimating and managing costs. The acquiring of the knowledge will allow you to apply these tools to any building or civil engineering project of any scale, or to other projects in other industries of similar scale and complexity, like renewable energies or oil and gas. Your skills will embody the core technical competencies that define the quantity surveying profession as well as the soft transferable skills valued and highly sought after by many key employers.

Fundamental themes of construction measurement, construction technology, law and economics and principles of ethics and sustainability are threaded throughout the sixyears of study.

Attendance

Six years. Part Time.

Each year based on 2 semesters of 12 weeks with approximately one day dedicated to face to face teaching, in the form of lectures, tutorials, seminars and practicals. Part-time students must find additional time for independent learning and study to complete the necessary assignment workload and prepare for examinations in January and May.

We attempt to timetable all required classes into 1 day per week for each semester, however some semesters require an additional half day of attendance. The day can change from one semester to the next within each academic year. Please check with the Course Director for details.

Start dates

Modules

Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.

Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.

Year one

Construction Technology 1

This module provides a general introduction to construction technology with specificemphasis on the sustainable construction of small-scale, low-rise buildings.

The module also introduces the factors that affect and systems that control the internalenvironment of domestic buildings.

Construction Law

Year: 1

Status: C

Built environment professionals must be aware of the legal boundaries within which they are required to operate. They must have knowledge of and a practical understanding of the legal rules which regulate transactions and relationships. They must appreciate and understand the fundamental principles of the legal framework within which they operate. The module is designed to develop in students an understanding of the above and will enable them to appreciate the importance of the correlation between law and their own specific discipline.

Ethical Construction Business Management

Year: 1

Status: C

This module has been designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the modern construction industry and how it sits within the UK economy. The module also provides a practical introduction to business organisations and ethical management principles and how they are applied to the construction industry, whilst also developing the student's professional and business skills to prepare them to operate in this environment.

Year two

BIM Fundamentals

Year: 2

Status: C

The modern day built environment professional is required to communicate electronically with the rest of the project team. This has been mandated by the UK Cabinet Office Construction Strategy, by European Commission procurement regulations and is being followed across the world. This module develops an understanding of the key drivers and barriers to fully implementing Level 2 BIM and points towards the development of level 3 BIM working in the near future. The module develops the foundational skills for internationally recognised BIM Level 2 for the contemporary and future built environment professionals.

Domestic Construction Measurement

Year: 2

Status: C

This module introduces construction measurement (or quantification). It is designed to develop a contextual understanding of construction measurement in practice, the philosophical principles behind measurement and an appreciation of the measurement rule making process.It will develop from the measurement of simple linear, superficial and cubic generic examples to the application of measurement of more complex construction related examples and then the measurement (quantification and description) of simple domestic construction in accordance with NRM2.

Economics

Year: 2

Status: C

This module will introduce the principles, implications and outcomes of economic behaviour as they relate to the built and business environments with an emphasis on demonstrating a real world application, where appropriate. The module provides a basis for the study of any second or third year modules with economic content.

Year three

Construction Technology 2

Year: 3

Status: C

The module enhances the understanding of functions, principles and sustainable methods in the design and construction of buildings, and develops greater awareness of the role of building technology and its interactive nature. Teaching methods include lectures supported by tutorials and case studies.

Quantification and Costing of construction works

Year: 3

Status: C

The modern day quantity surveyor / commercial manager is increasingly utilising computer applications to quantify and cost construction works. This role is of vital importance to the survival of any construction organisation seeking not only to grow and diversify, but to survive in a competitive market. The module learning provides a detailed understanding of how construction cost estimates are prepared and how strategic tendering procedures are implemented. The measurement undertaken within this module will further develop the contextual understanding of measurement in practice and the philosophical principles behind the the New Rules of Measurement (NRM2) and the important relationship between measurement and cost in construction.

Construction Contracts

Year: 3

Status: C

This module has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to review, interpret and apply the express provisions of the JCT and NEC3 standard forms of building contracts. This module further provides you with an appreciation of the contractual duties of the key parties and professionals involved in the contractual management of costs, time and change associated with a construction project.

Year four

Procurement and Administration

Year: 4

Status: C

This module has been designed to provide you with a comprehensive review of the procurement systems and tendering strategies available to UK construction industry clients. This module has been designed to enhance your ability to provide professional advice to your client on the selection of the most suitable contractor to design/ construction the construction project. Furthermore this module provides you the opportunity to demonstrate the key pre/ post contract administration duties of a professional quantity surveyor.

Cost Planning & Design Value Economics

Year: 4

Status: C

The module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the procedures and techniques used in the financial control and management of construction projects. It also explores the synergy between the economy and the construction industry and the implications on critical decision making with relation to design and cost planning of construction projects. There is a key focus on value engineering of projects to achieve best value design facilitated with modern design thinking with regards to building occupation and the whole life value of the project.

Commercial Construction Measurement B

Year: 4

Status: C

The measurement undertaken within this module will further develop the contextual understanding of measurement in practice, the use of measurement software and the philosophical principles behind the measurement rules of the New Rules of Measurement and the Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement.

The module will focus on the measurement of a range of elements found predominantly within commercial construction developing upon knowledge gained on measurement in previous academic study.

The module also focuses on the important relationship between measurement and cost.

Commercial Management

Year: 4

Status: C

The modern day quantity surveyor is regularly involved in the commercial management of the construction process right from award of contract to completion. A detailed understanding of tender allowances, cash flow forecasting and management; supply chain management; management accountancy and other aspects of commercial awareness in construction are essential to the performance of this role. This module therefore develops further, the knowledge gained from the first year studies in construction measurement and year two, first semester subjects like measurement and estimating and tendering and procurement and administration as well as complementing other semester modules including measurement, construction contracts and cost planning and design value economics.

Year five

Project Management

Year: 5

Status: C

Construction professionals are regularly involved in managing the construction process from inception to completion, which involves appreciating the balance between time, cost and quality of the project based upon the scope of the works, whilst always maintaining a safe and healthy working environment. This module provides a broad appreciation of the discipline of Project Management and a detailed knowledge and understanding of the concepts of managing the construction client and stakeholders; dealing with supply chain appointments; managing project design; planning the project strategy; managing construction; managing project information and managing project completion and hand over which are paramount to the performance of this role.

Civil Engineering Infrastructure

Year: 5

Status: C

At the core of the module is the realisation that the discipline demands a high degree of creativity and innovation of the construction design professional in the delivery of ethical and socially responsible projects. Civil Engineering infrastructure is multi-faceted, comprising every aspect of the built environment, impinging on every aspect of our lives. Students on this module will be key members of the construction industry and integral to the successful execution of civil engineering infrastructure projects. Accordingly the students completing this module will have demonstrated that they possess the technological and intellectual capabilities to function as a core member of a civil engineering project delivery team.

Quantity Surveying Project

Year: 5

Status: C

Quantity Surveyors often function in multidisciplinary environment; having to work with the construction Client, Architects, Building Surveyors and Design Engineers. This module therefore prepares the Quantity Surveying graduate for the challenges of working in groups and with other construction related professionals by simulating real life scenarios and challenging them to provide practical solutions.

Year six

Research and Dissertation

Year: 6

Status: C

The Research and Dissertation module provides the opportunity to explore in-depth an area of particular significance relating to the course of study. Students are responsible for collating information necessary for the selection and execution of the dissertation. They are required to critically evaluate the practicality, availability of reference material and access to individuals or records. Clear aims and objectives must be established, together with the methods to be used to attain these objectives. The dissertation is a mechanism that underwrites and supports analytical and evaluation skills, logical thought, and the ability to communicate effectively in terms of verbal and written material.

Advanced Measurement

Year: 6

Status: C

Measurement undertaken within this module will be diverse in all respects and will include the quantification and description of complex building and civil engineering elements/structures. Studies will include developing an understanding of the differing measurement rules and methods of measurement and their application.

The module will build upon the knowledge gained in previous academic study with the practical skills developed in industry, thus enabling the student to undertake the set tasks in this module practically and effectively.

Construction Economics

Year: 6

Status: C

This module develops a greater understanding of the modern professional quantity surveying service by examining more advanced techniques used in the financial appraisal and management of projects, and also contemporary issues related to project procurement and management. The key topics include: Value & Risk Management, Cost Modelling, Whole Life Costing, Cost Benefit Analysis, and Advanced concepts of Construction Economics & Management and the effect of the global and local economy on the construction industry.

Entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

OCR Nationals and Cambridge Technical Combinations do not satisfy the subject entry requirement for this course and will be accepted as grade only when presented with A levels in the relevant subjects.

GCSE English and Mathematics and a Physical Science at grade C or 4 or above.

Irish Leaving Certificate

The Irish Leaving Certificate requirement for this course is Grades H2,H3,H3,H3,H3, to include one from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering or Construction.

If not offering any of these subjects the requirement is H2,H2,H2,H2,H3.

English and Mathematics at grade H6 (HL or O4 (OL) is also required.

Scottish Highers

The Scottish Highers requirement for this course is BBBBC to include one from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering or Construction.

If not offering any of these subjects the requirement is AABBB.

Scottish Advanced Highers

The Scottish Advanced Highers requirement for this course is BBC to include one from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering or Construction.

If not offering any of these subjects the requirement is ABB.

International Baccalaureate

Overall International Baccalaureate profile with a minimum of 27 points (13 at higher level) to include Mathematics and one other science subject at HL.

Access to Higher Education (HE)

Science, Science and Technology or Construction Access with overall mark of 70%, to include 65% in Maths modules, for year 1 entry.

GCSE

GCSE English and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Teaching and learning assessment

Knowledge and understanding of the subject are acquired mainly through lectures, tutorials, directed reading, laboratories, case studies, seminars, and IT based resources. Intellectual qualities are developed through exercise classes/tutorials, coursework assignments, individual and group studio work and simulation exercises. Professional and practical skills are gained through coursework assignments including, laboratory work, problem solving assignments and studio work undertaken individually or in small groups, a group project and an individual final year research dissertation. Basic IT and communication skills are taught in Year 1. These and the other transferrable skills including delivering presentations are developed through coursework assignments including the preparation of reports, problem solving assignments/studio work undertaken individually or in small groups and an individual final year research dissertation.

Assessment of the above is principally through formal closed book examinations, class tests and coursework assignments consisting of reports, essays, individual and group exercises, group projects, oral/poster presentations and an individual final year research dissertation.

Exemptions and transferability

Students normally enter into Year 1.

Transfer may be available between part-time and full-time modes of study at appropriate transfer stages (i.e. level 4 or level 5) in the course.

There is no direct transferability between the surveying related courses within the School.

Direct Entry to Year 3:

In exceptional circumstances, if evidence of previous relevant study can be provided, consideration may be given to entry into the Third year.

Pass in Foundation Degree in "Sustainable Construction" with 55% overall in second year modules to include 65% in both "Construction Economics & Business Environment" and "Measurement & Costing" modules for entry to year 2.

Lower pass grades in "Sustainable Construction" and passes in other Foundation Degree subjects will facilitate entry to year 1 only.

Entry to Final Year:

A minimum of one third of the degree must be undertaken at Ulster University, which would require 20 credit points from a year 2 module from the programme to be passed prior to starting final year. Modules passed at other institutions must be reviewed to check alignment with Learning Outcomes from Ulster University's programme. Please contact the Course Director to discuss.

Careers & opportunities

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have gained employment with a wide range of organisations. Here are some examples:

Graham Construction

AECOM

Lagan Construction

Whitemountain Quarries

F P McCann

Bruce Shaw Partnership

Job roles

Graduates from this course are employed in many different roles. Here are some examples:

Commercial Manager

Construction Cost Consultant

Cost Engineer

Measurement Engineer

Career options

Most part-time students are already working in a quantity surveying role and are undertaking the degree as a pathway to attain MRICS status.

Typically graduates of the programme are working in positions, involving the financial and administrative management of construction projects, development companies, contracting organisations and property departments in both the public or private professional sectors. The course is also of relevance to those intending to map out a progressive career in any aspect of the construction industry. RICS accreditation provides graduates with global opportunities.

In addition, the course provides an excellent foundation for graduates who wish to undertake postgraduate study or research.

Start dates

Fees and funding

Fees (total cost)

Important notice - fees information
Fees illustrated are based on 18/19 entry and are subject to an annual increase. Correct at the time of publishing. Terms and conditions apply. Additional mandatory costs are highlighted where they are known in advance. There are other costs associated with university study.
Visit our Fees pages for full details of fees

Northern Ireland & EU:

£5,470.00

Scholarships, awards and prizes

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Undergraduate Prize, for final year students who are members of RICS, for highest aggregate mark in level 6 modules. £75 RICS book token (Redeemable only through RICS [NI]).

Gilbert Ash Collaboration Project Prize. Best group presentation for the second year joint Architectural Technology and Management/Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management collaborative project (i.e. Coursework 2 in SUR327 Commercial Management): Gift vouchers to a total value of £100.

Additional mandatory costs

Tuition fees and costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges), and normal living are a part of university life.

Where a course has additional mandatory expenses we make every effort to highlight them. These may include residential visits, field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering) inoculations, security checks, computer equipment, uniforms, professional memberships etc.

We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free wifi is also available on each of the campuses.

There will be some additional costs to being a student which cannot be itemised and these will be different for each student. You may choose to purchase your own textbooks and course materials or prefer your own computer and software. Printing and binding may also be required. There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines. Additional costs vary from course to course.

Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs as well as tuition fees.

For more information visit

Testimonials

Maurice Flynn & Sons:

“The QS degree course offered by Ulster University covered a wide variety of aspects of the construction industry. As we progressed through our studies we were able to gain a more detailed insight into how the industry works day to day. The inclusion of a placement year is a fantastic aspect of the degree and offers a foothold into the working world. The university recruitment fair offered a wide variety of opportunities to help us gain employment after graduation.” Michael McCormick, Patrick Loughran & Sean McGuigan.

O’Hare & McGovern:

“I found the course very interesting and I felt that it taught the basic principles of the job very well. It provided a clear understanding of the job role and of the processes involved. It gave a good introduction to the contracts in use and with the aid of the industrial placement year provided a great opportunity for an immediate career upon graduating.” Jonathan Stevenson (Class of 2012).

Tinnelly Construction Ltd:

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time studying within the QS programme. I feel that once I have embarked into the working world I will have taken a lot from the course with me which has set me up for a career as a graduate QS. I feel a lot of the modules studied have been very relevant to reality and would definitely recommend the QS & CM degree” Mark Hadden (class of 2015).